by Caroline Gill
| Sep 25, 2019 | Prone, SUP Events, SUP Racing, Uncategorized
Race 3
Not a breath, hardly a wave and a sparkling blue sky greeted the assembly of paddlers for the third race of the G-Bay Winter Series. A collective invite to the greater Peninsula paddling community brought numerous new faces of SUP and Proners along with a few surf-skier joking they needed to renew their passport for the outing to the other corner of False Bay.
In ideal conditions for PBs the race for the 8.35km short course from the Main Beach corner along the cliffs to the 5 Houses Rock returning back towards Harbour Island for a clockwise lap and back to the start saw Harry Lake in 53m43 take the honours over Scott Hogg with Jurie Wessels over 65 Bullet a few minutes behind whilst Lizl Hobson lone ski lady improving her PB in 01h04m03.
The SUP saw Rory Smith steak home in 56m27 whilst recently recrowned SA SUP Wave Champ Dylan Frick on a 12’6” board appeared to be teasing his father Francois as they hit the beach together but some 17 seconds separated them as Frick senior caught his breath to make the finish line in 59m14. Joshua Coetzee of Team Natural Energy and Guy Bubb of SUP Cape Town rounded out the male SUPs with 12 yo Chiara Voster showing her mettle as the lone female in 01h06m25 whilst in the Proners saw junior brother Ethan home in 01h12m17 ahead of Tyra Buncombe in an impressive 01h18m22.
The two-lap long course was a ding dong affair between Ian Trautman a Fishoek powerhouse and Ernest van Riet fresh from a top 5 team in the Berg River Marathon finish that saw Ernest sneak the advantage in 01h20m46 averaging 12.5kmh whilst Anton Holtzhausen held off a speeding Bianca Beavitt the first lady and 2nd overall in the individuals at the Berg River Marathon whilst Rodin Tindall of Freedom Paddle teamed up with Dimmie de Milander took the doubles and provided an entertaining video for the days scenic route.
Again the ever-improving Kira Bester took the junior ladies with Helen Rossouw rounding out the ladies podium, with Gary Pepler again taking the advantage over Charles Murless the long Bullets.
Kit Beaton the first Proner to complete the 50km Cape Point Challenge and 28km Freedom Paddle around Robben Island with Jadon Wessels had a gentlemen’s agreement to only race the last 1.5km that saw the young gun 18yo pip Kit a seasoned Bullet by a meagre 4 seconds after 16.7km averaging 7.80 km/h.
With a fantastic turnout that has seen the attendance numbers double since Race No 1 with a special appearance from Rob Moody and Tim Fey Venn both finishing their first PE2EL in December along with stalwarts Gareth Pinky, Patrick Elay and Paddle Magazine editor duo of Tracy and Terrence Ward showing the appeal of participation beyond the Helderberg community.
Race 4
A gray mist had engulfed the entire Cape Peninsula, yet a determined sun had burnt away with a warming Berg draft opened up a blue sky window with a glassy flat sea that hardly had a drop of water out of place.
A heavily bearded hardman and a top 10 PE2EL finisher Crispin Thompson had arrived with Bianca Beavitt being the SA Surf-ski Ladies 2nd seed and was in the business end of her World Champs training campaign and they set off in blistering pace with Jamii Hamlin making up the trio to round the Five House Rock at 3km, then steamed down to the Harbour Island for a clockwise lap before the race convenor dropped off and felt it would be way more sensible to paddle with Jeremy Thompson Go Deep sponsor for the remainder of the race as they quietly conceded that the Milnerton visitors were fitter, faster and very focused in their preparation for ICF Surfski World Champs in France come mid September.
Completing the short course Scott Hogg and Lizl Hobson were the lone surf-skiers finishing 55min31 and 1h02m37 respectively, yet for Lizl the result mean so much more to her as a year ago simply venturing a 100m from the shore was an achievement for her.
As many others away for SUP SA Champs in Durban which Natural Energy owner Dylan Frick clinched the Men’s title as young Chiara dominated the Junior Ladies, leaving Rory Smith 1h02m45 to pip his Cape Town SUP partner Guy Bubb 1h04m45 in the SUPrs whilst in the Prones Kit Beaton tailing Rory in 1h02m47 opened a sizable gap on u23 Jaden Wessels contesting on a lifesaving Malibu that seriously handicapped him as they completed the 8.35km in excellent times despite the spring low tide that effected the finishing 1km making it harder as the shallow water makes a sluggish pull on a crafts draft.
In the long course as expected Crispin kept Bianca close enough to test and stretch her over the 16,5km, but put the hammer down to finish in 1h23m56? as ‘Bubbles’ tapped in 2nd and the first lady in 1h24m11 whilst Jamii held off a strong challenge from Jeremy only seconds ahead in 1h26m58. Not far behind Rob Moody, Graham Roberts was holding off the mixed double of Terrence Ward with Tabera Joosten with Patrick Ealy, Charles Murless and Gary Pepler making up the Bullet trio along with ‘Prof’ Johan van Rooyen and new-comer from Sea Point Gary Morton claiming the Specski category.
Race 5
1st of Spring dawned a grey overhead sky with a light onshore murmur causing a sloppy sea that wobbled with morning sickness as a seasoned field of surf skiers waded out to find deep enough water for a start in a super spring low tide that left several starfishes stranded on an exposed shoreline.
Blasting off Mike Schwan with long-time doubles partner Richard Allen set a furious pace whilst Bianca Beavitt hung on to their slip in her final preparation race for her ICF World Surfski appearance in France later this month leaving the rest of the field trying to catch their breath and find rhythm in an unsettle sea as they tussled for the remaining podium spots.
Robin Tindall of Freedom Paddle back from an injury layoff fell out his ski to clear the seaweed whilst Jeremy Thompson of Go Deep then led the chasing pack to the Five Houses turning rock that was awash with a surging sea. Heading back Jamii Hamlin caught the wave of the day from the Harbour Island buoys into the entrance as Mike and Richard already some 800m ahead were now heading out with Bianca not far behind them looking silky smooth as the remainder of the field flushed into the calmer water for a clockwise loop before heading back to the main beach corner for a second lap of the 8.35km course.
Michael van der Heerik and Johan van Rooyen had found the sea a little too choppy and decided to finish a single lap for a short course 1 & 2 respectively.
In the long course the lead double finished in 1h22m56, as Bianca claiming first lady and single overall showed how polished her preparation by smashing a 1h28m39 averaging 11.2kmh, whilst Robin recovered for his early swim found another gear to clawed back the gap to eventually pip Jamii into 3rd by seven second in 1h31m14 as they traded bumps to keep ahead of the main pack of Graham Roberts, Rob Moody, Stephan du Toit, Jeremy Thompson, Bennie Steyn and August Lohann in an increasingly testing sea that had everyone taking air strokes working their core strength and realising this was proper surf-ski paddling showing up any weakness in their skills.
With the SUPs and Prones excused for an Iron Man/Lady relay competition in Fishoek along with Kira Bester doing a coin flip as a SA Junior Lifesaving Champ and 2nd SA Ski Junior seed she, unfortunately, missed out contesting with SA ICF World Champs teammate Melanie van Niekerk who showed just how deep the level of ladies paddling is and finished strongly in 1h37m34looking slightly taxed from the 16.5km course but pointing to her padded up seat to commented it wasn’t the easiest of conditions for trying a tippy set up.
Patrick Ealy 1st Bullet 1h46m04 had managed to hang on to the lone mixed-double pairing of Terrence Ward and Tabera Joosten 1h45m52 for a portion of the second lap to hold off Gary Pepler as second Bullet just 45s behind.
What a great Series! Thank you Gordons Bay.
by Chris Couve | Sep 12, 2016 | Fiji World Champs, ISA, Prone, Stand Up Paddle, SUP Events, SUP Surfing, Surfing South Africa
Bula – Welcome!
On behalf of the WTF (Way To Fiji) KZN members of SUP Team South Africa – a very BIG thank you to everyone that stepped up and selflessly supported us in our efforts to raise funds at our Fundraiser event held at S43, Durban, on Thursday 8th September 2016.
We received an absolutely outstanding response to our ticket sales, which ended up in 146 people attending including our loyal local SUPérs, business men and supporters – great to see so many wives, girlfriends and partners contributing to the glamour! This type of support is truly amazing.
The evening kicked off at 17h30 with a welcoming “Springbok” shooter to get you in the mood! (this Springbok went down much better than the unfortunate Springbok game that followed over the weekend…
Registration was manned by Caraline and Les, who did a marvellous job as the Guests arrived including managing the Raffle tickets, Burger and Beer tickets and not forgetting to take the Mula! Lande & Jenna as well as Malec & Chantel – worked the room punting additional much needed raffle tickets too, (who could resist the charms!) thanks guys!
The atmosphere was festive and you could feel the excitement building in the air, two beautiful F.one and Naish SUP boards hanging from the ceiling and a massive table filled with prizes to be auctioned and raffled during the course of the evening including the massive ‘’one of a kind’’ long-board care of Brandon Ribbink (could not have been easy letting that icon go to the highest bidder!)
Burgers and Beers were being served and some really good “Home brewed’’ Craft beers from the in-house S43 Brewery. A generous prize was an S43 tour for 10 and as much beer as you can drink…. This was snapped up fairly quickly!
The main draw card kicking off the evening was Twig Baker and Brandon Ribbink both legends of the Sea… Twig of course being a World Champ big wave rider and Brandon a World Champ paddle boarder (both these men have an incredible pedigree going back many, many years and needed little introduction.)
The Question and Answer between Twig and Brandon was very enlightening, Brandon with a hidden talent for interviewing put forward some entertaining and pertinent questions and Twig proved to be an entertaining and insightful respondent, giving the audience a real feel for life on the circuit of the legendary Big Wave spots around the World. The crowd was riveted (Albeit a few party revellers at the back who engaged in deep meaningful raucousness!
As our very talented DJ spilled out the tunes the vibe was almost ready for the start of the Big AUCTION and raffles, this is what everyone had been waiting for.
Deon hit that MIC like no other, he has definitely found a new talent, some bidders found themselves at the end of some very pointed looks and cajoling as Deon squeezed every last cent out of those deep pockets, well done Deon
‘’exceptional’’ is an understatement! Sharon was hard pressed to run after those lucky, successful bidders to record their details before recollection of bids was lost in the revelry, great job! (anybody needing Deon over the following few days needed a pen and paper as the voice was long spent from the exertion of the night!) Thank goodness, he can rest until our Prize giving at the end of November.
A really great and successful evening was had, we raised R14 600 on our door takings, R66 400 on our Auction and around R10 000 on our raffle tickets. Take a bow one and all!
Special mention please to-
· The ‘engine room’ behind the scenes crew of volunteers, not already mentioned above – you are all absolute stars!
· The individuals and corporates who donated amazing lucky draws and raffles – incredible and diverse gems were won on the night and we sincerely hope the bidders who dug deep are more than happy with their winnings.
· Black-Coffee donated their time, energy and state of the art equipment to ensure a professional and eye-opening experience for all.
· James the DJ once again kept the crowd energised and impromptu dance moves were the order of the day!
· The S43 crew of bar tenders and waitrons were on the ball and ensured glasses were kept full and the burgers went down a treat indeed.
· Brand House for the Springboks at the door, setting the mood!
· Lastly, to everybody that endured the push and pull from yours truly, Manager of Team S.A, your patience resulted in a resounding success!
Thanks again and keep an eye out for further updates as we progress towards the grand departure for Fiji – with this kind of support behind the Team Medals are sure to follow!
Vinaka!
Ange Whittle | Team Manager
by Chris Couve | May 18, 2015 | Prone, Sayulita World Champs, Stand Up Paddle, SUP Racing
Australia 4-Peats ISA Team Relay; Jordan Mercer (AUS), Jack Bark (USA) Win Paddleboard Technical; Candice Appleby (USA), Conner Baxter (HAW) Win SUP Technical
For daily photos, video highlights and video news releases – http://isawsuppc.com/media/
Team USA celebrating on the podium after winning the World Team Champion Trophy and Gold Medal. USA’s six individual Gold Medals were enough to dethrone the reigning champions Australia. Photo: ISA/Ben Reed
Team USA celebrating on the podium after winning the World Team Champion Trophy and Gold Medal. USA’s six individual Gold Medals were enough to dethrone the reigning champions Australia. Photo: ISA/Ben Reed
The 2015 ISA World StandUp Paddle (SUP) and Paddleboard Championship Presented by Hotel Kupuri culminated with 27 National Delegations erupting in celebration on the beautiful beach of Sayulita, Riviera Nayarit, Mexico.
Racers head towards the beach transition portion of the course. Negotiating the shore break was crucial for success. Photo: ISA/ Ben Reed
Kicking off the final day of competition was the ISA Team Relay Race. Four members from each team united in the name of their country to take to the technical course alternating between SUP and Paddleboard Racing.
The first team to complete the course was the dynamic Australians that earned their fourth repeat victory. Rounding out the rest of the team relay results were New Zealand in second, USA in third and Hawaii in fourth, respectively.
The first individual event of the day was the Women’s Paddleboard Technical Race, and it was with little surprise that Australian Jordan Mercer earned the Gold Medal. Mercer is the most decorated athlete in the history of the ISA and took home Gold Medals in every discipline she competed in.
Jordan Mercer, the most decorated ISA athlete in history, added to her Medal collection this week winning every discipline she competed in. Photo: ISA/Ben Reed
“You are out there paddleboarding and all you have is your hands and your heart,” said the experienced Mercer. “That’s all you have to work with. So, to know the support and spirit that I have being an Australian — I go out there racing for my country… Australia is a country of pride, a country of privilege, and one that I am so honored to represent.”
Completing the lineup of women paddleboard medalists was Carter Graves (USA) earning Silver, Itziar Abascal (ESP) getting the Bronze and Jasmine Smith (NZL) taking home the Copper.
In the Men’s Paddleboard Technical Race, American Jack Bark was the first to finish nearly 20 seconds ahead of his competition with a time of 23:24. Australian Lachie Lansdown was the next to cross the finish but only three seconds behind him was Kiwi Cory Taylor and Hawaiian Kai Hall another seven seconds later.
Part of USA’s week of dominance included Sunday’s Gold Medal performance by Jack Bark in the Men’s Paddleboard Technical Race. Photo: ISA/Ben Reed
“It’s an honor to be here for the United States. To be able to help them out and win a gold was awesome!” exclaimed Bark after his result had set in and his team surrounded him.
The fourth final of the day was the Women’s SUP Technical Race where a second American claimed Gold further distancing themselves from the Australians in the overall team points. Candice Appleby was that American and took home her second Gold after winning the SUP Distance Race earlier in the week. Terrene Black (AUS), Penelope Strickland (NZL) and Lina Augaitis (CAN) made up the rest of that podium.
Candice Appleby leading the pack in today’s Women’s Technical Race, winning her second individual Gold Medal at the ISA World Championship. Photo: ISA/Ben Reed
“Our team unity is second to none and I think it’s going to end up that way at the end of the day,” expressed Appleby with national pride. “Everybody is so excited and so motivated. The Individual Gold, Silver, Bronze and all the different places are awesome, but they are just stepping stones towards our final goal.”
The Men’s SUP Technical Race saw intense action as the best athletes in the world stayed neck-and-neck for the first two and a half laps with only board lengths separating their positions. Into the third lap Conner Baxter and Hawaiian teammate Mo Freitas began to break away from the pack, but with the two-time, ISA Gold Medalist Casper Steinfath of Denmark and Titouan Puyo of France only a few board lengths away, the race was anything but decided until the very end.
Ultimately, the Hawaiian teammates would scratch their way into a wave on the last lap that allowed them to cruise into back-to-back finishes. Baxter took the first Gold Medal of the event for his team and Freitas earned Silver. Steinfath barely missed the wave his opponents rode to victory and would end up in an all out sprint for a photo finish against Puyo. In the end, Puyo was awarded the Bronze and Steinfath the Copper.
Conner Baxter propelling Team Hawaii to the Team Bronze Medal with his individual Gold Medal in the Men’s SUP Technical Race. Photo: ISA/Brian Bielmann
“It’s definitely a different vibe,” said the first-time ISA Gold Medalist Baxter. “The Maui boys, we represent Aloha and always cheer each other on, but having the whole team spirit and all the other 27 different countries, it’s so amazing. Normally you are going into it with a mindset for yourself, but this week we are going for Team Hawaii. We definitely tried our best.”
The remaining Gold Medal to be determined was that of the overall ISA World Team Champion — the most coveted medal of the entire ISA World Championship.
The revealing of the ISA World Team Champion took place at the end of the Closing Ceremony once every other medal had been awarded.
Coming into the week of competition it was known that Team Australia had their work cut out for them as the defending champions for the past three years running. The debut of the Hawaiians at the ISA World SUP and Paddleboard Championship was certainly thought to be a threat, but it turned out to be the Americans with the most dominant showing and eventually taking the title.
The whole town of Sayulita joined the international crowd to witness the ISA World Championship and support the athletes. Photo: ISA/Ben Reed
“It has been the most phenomenal week in the history of the sport, and I want to thank each and every athlete in this competition for helping us, for coming, for arriving in Sayulita, Mexico and making this a part of your life,” declared ISA President Fernando Aguerre. “This World Championship will be the best in history with the most incredible SUP Surfing, StandUp and Paddleboard Racing competition. The best competitors were here.”
“I hope that when the athletes go home they leave with friendships in the rest of the world and have good memories of Sayulita and Riviera Nayarit in Mexico,” Aguerre proceeded. “I know that some will bring home medals, some will not, but you have to remember, all are winners. These athletes came to Sayulita, represented their country, were members of their National SUP and Paddleboard Team, and did all of this in Olympic Spirit.”
2015 ISA World SUP and Paddleboard Championship Team Standings:
- USA
- Australia
- Hawaii
- New Zealand
- Brazil
- Mexico
- South Africa
- Spain
- Tahiti
- Peru
- France
- Argentina
- Japan
- Canada
- Great Britain
- Italy
- Denmark
- Sweden
- Costa Rica
- Ireland
- Chile
- Venezuela
- Holland
- Barbados
- Switzerland
- US Virgin Islands
- El Salvador
by Chris Couve | May 13, 2015 | Prone, Sayulita World Champs, Stand Up Paddle, SUP Racing
SUP and Paddleboard Women Earn First Gold Medals, Claim Valuable Points for 2015 ISA World StandUp Paddle and Paddleboard Championship Presented by Hotel Kupuri
The Women’s SUP and Paddleboard Distance Race kicked off the first day of racing competition at the 2015 ISA World StandUp Paddle and Paddleboard Championship Presented by Hotel Kupuri in Sayulita, Riviera Nayarit, Mexico. Photo: ISA/Reed
Following four laps around the 20KM course along the coastline of Sayulita, Riviera Nayarit, Mexico, the first medals and points were awarded at the 2015 ISA World StandUp Paddle and Paddleboard Championship Presented by Hotel Kupuri.
Team U.S.A.’s Candice Appleby captured her first International Surfing Association (ISA) Gold Medal. Appleby also earned valuable points for the overall team ranking with the win in the Women’s StandUp Paddle (SUP) Long Distance Race. Appleby’s time was 1:52:54 to finish.
USA’s Candice Appleby (left) finished with the Gold Medal ahead of Canada’s Lina Augaitis (right), who earned the Silver Medal. Photo: ISA/Bielmann
“I always try to do my best and win, but it feels really good to be doing it for more than just myself. I got my team, my country, God, my family,” said the elated Appleby. “It feels very good to have my team screaming on the beach rooting for me.”
Team U.S.A.’s Candice Appleby captured her first ISA Gold Medal. Appleby also earned valuable points for the overall team ranking with the win in the Women’s StandUp Paddle (SUP) Long Distance Race. Photo: ISA/Reed
On the Paddleboard side, Australian Jordan Mercer earned her fourth consecutive Gold Medal but not without a dramatic finish.
Coming into the final two buoys of the course, Mercer was head-to-head with Anna Notten from Team South Africa. However, Notten, caught up in the moment, paddled straight toward beach forgetting to complete the final two buoy turns giving Mercer the 4-peat. Mercer’s final time was 2:07:37, and Notten finished at 2:08:29.
Jordan Mercer, the most decorated athlete in ISA history, added another medal to her collection with the Gold in the Women’s Distance Paddleboard Race. Photo: ISA/Reed
“I know now having crossed the line first and getting that fourth Gold at the ISA marathon race, the pain is all worth it,” said Mercer, the most decorated ISA athlete ever. “You are getting pushed to your absolute limits. Each year the girls are getting stronger and the countries are so passionate about being here, leading their nations. I am honored to be a part of it.”
Mercer resumed, “Out there racing, every stroke counts. Anything can happen while you are out there… I want to give huge thanks to Team Australia for having my back and helping me prepare and get ready for this race.”
The anticipated rivalry between Team Australia and Team U.S.A. has begun. Carter Graves (U.S.A.) and Terrene Black (AUS) each finished third in their respective race. The day ended with Teams Australia and U.S.A. tied in points at 14,030.
Furthermore, the story of Hawaii as powerful contenders in the ISA World Championship was initiated. Leane Darling finished with a time of 2:10:00, earning her the first Hawaiian ISA medal in this competition for her team, a Copper.
“Amazing! Today we saw the best SUP and Paddleboard women in the world take to the water,” said ISA President Fernando Aguerre. “The result, the greatest level of competition this community has ever seen.”
“Today was not only about the competition in the water,” Aguerre continued. “The energy on the beach was that of a true World Championship. Each National Team waved their flags and cheered in support of their fellow athletes and their competitors. This sport is about more than just the contest, it is about the friendship and camaraderie.”
This sentiment was seen as the final competitor, Argentina’s Florencia Baraboglia, reached the beach, more than 30 minutes later than the competitor before her, to a man-made tunnel composed of international hands, flags and cheers of praise. This completely exemplified what the ISA is truly about: unifying Nations through the sport of Surfing, SUP, and Paddleboard Racing.
In true ISA spirit, a man-made tunnel composed of international hands, flags and cheers of praise, welcomed Argentina’s Florencia Baraboglia, who was the last competitor to cross the finish line. Photo: ISA/Reed
Tomorrow the competition continues with the Men’s SUP and Paddleboard Long Distance Races. Returning to defend the Gold Medal is France’s Titouan Puyo in SUP facing the likes U.S.A.’s highly touted Danny Ching, Hawaii’s Conner Baxter, Tahiti’s Georges Cronsteadt and Australia’s Beau O’Brian.
In Paddleboard, look for Australia’s defending Gold Medalist Rhys Burrows fending off the likes of U.S.A.’s Jack Bark as well as the 2014 Silver Medalist Sam Shergold from New Zealand.
Tune in to the live webcast for the third day of the 2015 ISA World SUP and Paddleboard Championship Presented by Hotel Kupuri with the Morning Show hosted by Beau Hodge, featuring the lively brothers from Team Barbados Brian and Kevin Talma:
Wednesday, 8:40am Mexico City, Mexico
Wednesday, 6:40am Los Angeles, U.S.A.
Wednesday, 3:40pm Paris, France
Wednesday, 11:40pm Sydney, Australia
Watch the live webcast here – www.ISAWSUPPC.com
The Women’s Distance Paddleboard Race was close until the end, as shown by this close pack comprised of Australia’s Jordan Mercer (left), South Africa’s Anna Notten (center) and USA’s Carter Graves (right). Photo: ISA/Bielmann
